Countdown to Paris Olympics: Meet the Top Contenders!

With the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics scheduled for July 26 at 11 p.m. IST, the world is eagerly awaiting the spectacle that typically creates memories lasting for generations.

Stars to watch out for!

Armand Duplantis (Sweden)

Pole Vault, Age: 24

Armand Duplantis set the first world record in the senior men's pole vault at the age of 24 with a jump of 6.17 metres in February 2020. He subsequently broke his own record several times, currently standing at 6.24 metres. He won gold in Tokyo 2021 with a jump of 6.01 metres.

Simone Biles (USA)

Gymnastics, Age: 27

Simone Biles, the American gymnast who withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics, had cited several reasons for her decision. Biles, who achieved four golds and one silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics at the age of just 19, has been a global icon of gymnastics. However, she withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health concerns amidst fierce competition. Her withdrawal sparked widespread discussions about athletes' mental health, initiating significant debates. Biles qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris with a record score in the U.S. gymnastics trials. For all these reasons, she is rightfully expected to showcase a strong performance in the upcoming Games. 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica)

100m, 200m sprint, Age: 37

Fraser, a sprinter, has been the focus of women's sprint events since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the age of 37, she continues to sprint.

So far, she has won a total of three golds and one silver, including two golds in the 100 metres at the Olympics. She has already announced that the Paris Games will be her last Olympics outing.

Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)

Marathon, Age: 39

In the 2004 Athens Olympics, Kipchoge began his journey by winning bronze in the 5000 metres. Over 20 years later, arriving in Paris, Kipchoge's performance has always been on the rise. He won silver in the 5000 metres in 2008. He upped the performance over the years, winning consecutive golds in 2016 and 2020 Games. If he manages to repeat the feat in Paris, then he will own a unique record of a triple gold in Marathon in the Olympics. 

Katie Ledecky (USA)

Swimming, Age: 27

Katie Ledecky has emerged as a figure directly in the annals of history, securing seven Olympic gold medals and 21 World Championship gold medals. In Paris, she will compete in the 200, 400, 800, and 1500 freestyle events. If she wins the 800 metres, it will mark her fourth consecutive Olympic gold.

Sha'Carri Richardson (USA)

100m sprint, Age: 24

She is the current world record holder in the women's 100 metres. Despite being the fastest woman in the world before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she couldn’t compete in the competition after getting caught for doping. Afterward, she returned to the track with even greater strength. At last year's World Championships in Budapest, she clinched gold with a time of 10.65 seconds. She ranks first in the world for the 100 metres. The season's best time (10.71 seconds) is also credited to Sha'Carri.

Noah Lyles (USA)

100, 200 meters, Age: 27

He is the current world record holder in men's 100 and 200 metres. He won silver in the 200 metres at the Tokyo Olympics. Currently, he ranks second in the world for the 100 metres. Noah won gold in the 100, 200, and 4x100 metres relay at last year's World Championships in Budapest. He is considered the fastest man in Paris.

Rafael Nadal (Spain)

Tennis, Age: 38

Rafael Nadal, a Spanish tennis legend who has dominated the sport for some time, is aiming for medals at Paris. He skipped Wimbledon earlier this year to prepare for the Olympics. Here, he will compete in both singles and men's doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz.

Natalia Grossman (USA)

Sport climbing, Age: 23

In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the main figure in sport climbing, who won ten gold medals at the World Cup.

*Sport Climbing as an event was introduced in Tokyo Games.

LeBron James (USA)

Basketball, Age: 40

LeBron James, the top scorer in the NBA, has his fourth Olympics. However, this is his first Olympics since 2012. He participated in the previous three Olympics and won gold medals. By competing in Paris, he will achieve a feat of competing in the Olympics over three decades.